Patient Fairness and Relief Act of 2017

In general— Notwithstanding any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (including any amendment made by such Act or by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010), a health insurance issuer that had in effect health insurance coverage in the individual market as of January 1, 2013, and has continued such coverage through January 1, 2017, under CCIIO guidance (as defined in subsection (c)) may renew and continue to offer such coverage for sale on and after the date of the enactment of this Act in the individual market outside of an Exchange established under section 1311 or 1321 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18031, 18041).

Treatment as grandfathered health plan in satisfaction of minimum essential coverage— Health insurance coverage described in subsection (a) shall be treated as a grandfathered health plan for purposes of the amendment made by section 1501(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

CCIIO guidance defined— In this section, the term CCIIO guidance means the letter issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on November 14, 2013, to the State Insurance Commissioners outlining a transitional policy for non-grandfathered coverage in the small group and individual health insurance markets, as subsequently extended and modified (including by a communication entitled “Insurance Standards Bulletin Series—INFORMATION—Extension of Transitional Policy through Calendar Year 2017” issued on February 29, 2016, by the Director of the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight of such Centers).